Autism campaigners, including Holly Robinson Peete, whose eldest son suffers from the condition, took aim at Cole, and now he has taken to the web to say sorry for any offense caused.

In a post on his website, he writes, “In a recent verse on the song ‘Jodeci Freestyle’, I said something highly offensive to people with autism. Last week, when I first saw a comment from someone outraged about the lyric, I realized right away that what I said was wrong. I was instantly embarrassed that I would be ignorant enough say something so hurtful. What makes the crime worse is that I should have known better.

“To the entire autism community who expressed outrage, I’m moved and inspired by your passion, and I’m amazed at how strong you are as a unit. I have now read stories online from parents about their struggles and triumphs with raising an autistic child and I admire how incredibly strong you have to be to do so. It’s touching. It also makes what I said even more embarrassing for me. I feel real shame. You have every right to be angry.”

The star adds he is now eager to learn more about autism and what life is like for sufferers in a bid to be better informed in the future: “I want to educate myself more on autism, and I’ll gladly own my mistake and serve as an example to today’s generation that there’s nothing cool about mean-spirited comments about someone with autism. People with this disorder and their loved ones have to go through so much already, the last thing they need is to hear something as ignorant as what I said.”